Ethics Defined -moral principles; rules of conduct in a particular group/culture; values relating to human conduct; right, wrong, good, bad -Ethics are learned through experience, education and interaction with other people -Morals are more personal, ethics are more social
Ethical Behaviour -Legal behaviour with implications form a variety of variables including the individual, social, and corporate priorities
Ethical Dilemmas -situations faced by workers every day -choice between alternatives in a situation that may result in personal/organizational benefit
International Code of Ethics for Canadian Business 1. Human Rights -we will support and promote the protection of international human rights within our sphere of influence -we will not be Complicit in human rights abuses
2. Business Conduct -we will not make illegal and improper payments and bribes and will refrain from participating in any corrupt business practices -we will comply with applicable laws and conduct business activities in a transparent fashion. -we will ensure contractors', suppliers', and agents' activities are consistent with these principles
3. Employee rights and health and safety: -we will ensure the health and safety of workers is protected -we will strive for social justice and promote freedom of association and expression in the workplace -we will ensure consistency with universally accepted labour standards, including those related to the exploitation of child labour
Ethical Policies exist in some form or another in most companies and organizations. The policies explain to the employees and the public what is important to the organization, what the organization can offer and the beliefs on which the organization is based. Following are the sources of a "code of ethics" used in business:
Sources of Codes of Ethics
Personal Values
Organizational Values
Societal Values
Caring For Family
Caring for the organization (employees and management)
Caring for other members of that society
Caring for friends and relatives
Caring for the public (customers, creditors, suppliers)
Caring for the global society
Obeying family rules and the law
Obeying company rules and the law
Obeying societal rules and the law
Being a responsible citizen (community)
Being a responsible member of an organization
Being a responsible citizen (community, province, country, and the world)
Protecting and caring for home and community
Protecting and caring for the human and physical work environment
Protecting and caring for the human and physical environment
Part 1 Answer the questions below, there are no right or wrong answers, these are meant to get you to think about ethics in a broad sense.
1. Which quality is most important in a friend? a. Loyalty b. Generosity c. Honesty
2. If you had a housing unit available and there were three applicants, to which person would you rent it? a. an unemployed person b. a physically challenged person c. a homeless person
3. Where should government agencies target surplus funds? a. food banks b. housing for the homeless c. medical research d. reducing the national debt
4. Which freedom is most important to you? a. economic freedom b. religious freedom c. political freedom
Part 2 Every day you face life situations that call for reflection, decision making, and action. Everything you do, every decision you make, is based on your values. Throughout your life, you decide what is important to you. You form your own code of ethics. You are influenced by your family, friends, members of organizations you belong to and places you work.
Respond to the following statements. Be specific with your examples and reflections a. Describe something that you have done recently that you are proud of because it will make a difference for others. b. Describe a controversial issue on which you have only expressed your views recently. c. Describe a situation in which you observe someone not being treated fairly. How did you feel? How would you have acted in the situation?
Part 3 Visit the following websites and research the organization "code of ethics/values". Provide at least three sentences for each.
Ethics and Values
Ethics Defined
-moral principles; rules of conduct in a particular group/culture; values relating to human conduct; right, wrong, good, bad
-Ethics are learned through experience, education and interaction with other people
-Morals are more personal, ethics are more social
Ethical Behaviour
-Legal behaviour with implications form a variety of variables including the individual, social, and corporate priorities
Ethical Dilemmas
-situations faced by workers every day
-choice between alternatives in a situation that may result in personal/organizational benefit
International Code of Ethics for Canadian Business
1. Human Rights
-we will support and promote the protection of international human rights within our sphere of influence
-we will not be Complicit in human rights abuses
2. Business Conduct
-we will not make illegal and improper payments and bribes and will refrain from participating in any corrupt business practices
-we will comply with applicable laws and conduct business activities in a transparent fashion.
-we will ensure contractors', suppliers', and agents' activities are consistent with these principles
3. Employee rights and health and safety:
-we will ensure the health and safety of workers is protected
-we will strive for social justice and promote freedom of association and expression in the workplace
-we will ensure consistency with universally accepted labour standards, including those related to the exploitation of child labour
Ethical Policies exist in some form or another in most companies and organizations. The policies explain to the employees and the public what is important to the organization, what the organization can offer and the beliefs on which the organization is based. Following are the sources of a "code of ethics" used in business:
Sources of Codes of Ethics
(employees and management)
that society
and relatives
creditors, suppliers)
the law
and the law
and the law
(community)
an organization
(community, province, country,
and the world)
for home and community
human and physical work environment
human and physical environment
Answer the questions below, there are no right or wrong answers, these are meant to get you to think about ethics in a broad sense.
1. Which quality is most important in a friend?
a. Loyalty
b. Generosity
c. Honesty
2. If you had a housing unit available and there were three applicants, to which person would you rent it?
a. an unemployed person
b. a physically challenged person
c. a homeless person
3. Where should government agencies target surplus funds?
a. food banks
b. housing for the homeless
c. medical research
d. reducing the national debt
4. Which freedom is most important to you?
a. economic freedom
b. religious freedom
c. political freedom
Part 2
Every day you face life situations that call for reflection, decision making, and action. Everything you do, every decision you make, is based on your values. Throughout your life, you decide what is important to you. You form your own code of ethics. You are influenced by your family, friends, members of organizations you belong to and places you work.
Respond to the following statements. Be specific with your examples and reflections
a. Describe something that you have done recently that you are proud of because it will make a difference for others.
b. Describe a controversial issue on which you have only expressed your views recently.
c. Describe a situation in which you observe someone not being treated fairly. How did you feel? How would you have acted in the situation?
Part 3
Visit the following websites and research the organization "code of ethics/values". Provide at least three sentences for each.
Canadian Nurses Association
Engineers
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists